Sterile pharmaceutical products including vials are manufactured with extreme accuracy and zero tolerance for error. As a result, pharmaceutical manufacturers place a high value on their quality control procedures. This is to guarantee that the items meet the quality requirements for their intended application. Packaging is essential for maintaining product quality and providing protection from harmful external forces. Package integrity testing, in addition to selecting suitable packing material, is a crucial component in preserving product quality. It prevents external contamination that can have a negative influence on drug quality by ensuring that there are no leaks within the package.
An effective package integrity solution for vials will ensure:
- The vial is well-protected from external factors that might affect its quality, such as light, oxygen, moisture, and temperature
- It is safe from contamination
Various Container closure integrity testing (CCIT) technologies are available today. Helium leak detection is one of the leading methods used for testing the container closure integrity of vials.
Helium Leak Detection Technology for CCI testing of Vials
The process of detecting leaks in various enclosed or sealed systems by utilizing helium as a tracer gas and measuring its concentration as it leaves due to leakage is termed Helium leak testing. Simply say, a vial that consists of a container and an elastomeric closure is a good example for package system. The vial is filled with helium and evacuated. The quantity of helium that escapes from the package is quantified and expressed as a leak rate. A prefilled syringe, a foil pouch, or a cold form blister card are another example. Each of these package types is meant to keep the pharmaceutical product enclosed while keeping out potentially harmful environmental pollutants like germs, or even gases.
Helium gas has a number of qualities that make it the best choice for package leak testing
- As helium gas is one of the smallest molecules, it may reliably and rapidly breach pathways.
- It is an inert gas that won't react with the components being tested, therefore it's perfectly safe to use.
- Because of its limited presence in the atmosphere (less than 5ppm), instrument noise from atmospheric helium is intrinsically minimal, resulting in very precise findings.
Following are the advantages of using helium leak detection technology for CCI testing
- Highly sensitive leak test method for CCI
- Specially designed for detecting extremely small leaks that other leak test methods failed to detect.
- The leak test thresholds might be adjusted as low as 1 x 10 -10 cc/s using a high vacuum technique. This allows unique comparison amongst package components.
Sterility of vials is essential for reducing and preventing infection in patients when using the medicine. As a result, package integrity testing is essential for regulatory approval of sterile pharmaceutical products, and medical devices. When it comes to package integrity testing of vials, the terms packaging integrity and container-closure integrity are sometimes used interchangeably.
At CCIT, we provide a wide range of quality leak testing equipment for pharmaceuticals including vials. With our high-grade non-destructive testing equipment, you can ensure that your products meet stringent quality requirements.
container closure integrity testing, container closure integrity, cci technologies, seal integrity testing, seal quality inspection
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